Therapeutic bath apparatus



A ril 6, 1954 Filed Sept. 25 1950 R. E. SCHURTZ THERAPEUTIC BATHAPPARATUS ll Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR,

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April 6, 1954 E. scHURTZ THERAPEUTIC BATH APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25 195011 Sheets-Sheet 9 afar/ray April 6, 1954 R. E. SCHURTZ 2,674,491

THERAPEUTIC BATH APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet 10INVENTOR, Pale/l ZTJrfiz/r/fz:

April 6, 1954 R. E. SCHURTZ 2,674,491 THERAPEUTIC BATH APPARATUS FiledSept. 25, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE THERAPEUTIC BATH APPARATUS Ralph E. Schurtz, Kansas City,Mo. Application September 25, 1950, Serial No. 186,527 7 Claims. (01.299-66) This invention relates to improvements in therapeutic bathapparatus, and has particular reference to an apparatus of thischaracter wherein water sprays of difierent temperatures are applied atpredetermined periods of time to the body of the patient either in thepresence or absence of suitable electrical impulse to stimulate themuscles of the patient.

By actual tests it has been found that spray baths such as contemplatedby this invention, together with properly controlled electricaldischarges have been found very beneficial in the treatment of ailmentsof the human body. The intermittent applications of water of differenttemperatures, the application of water of different types of spray fordifferent relative periods of time, and at different pressures, areprovided by this device for different ailments and for difierentpatients.

The spray baths provided by this device for different patients arebeneficial, principally because of the reaction produced by the massageeffect of the water when applied to the body of the patient in sprayforms of varying charac-- teristics.

Another beneficial reaction is obtained by the resultant reaction of themuscles due to the electric application during the spraying operation.

Other objects are simplicity and sturdiness of construction, ease andaccuracy of operation, and adaptability for use in numerous variationsand combinations of water temperatures, pressures and electricaldischarges.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appearduring the course of the specification, reference will be had to thedrawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the therapeutic .bath apparatus embodyingthis invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational View of the foot end of the bath apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the head end of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view with someparts left in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cabinet with the cover removed.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the solenoid operated controlvalve which controls the flow of hot and cold water to the spray nozzlewith the valve in section.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the valve taken on line VII-VIIof Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the bath apparatus taken on lineVIII-'VIII of Fig. 4,.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the nozzle control mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view takenon line XI-XI of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken on lin XII-XII of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is across sectional view taken on line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken on line XIV-XIV of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a sectional View taken on line XV-XV of Fig. 9.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on line XVI-XVI of Fig. 9.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on line XVII-XVII of Fig. 9.

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view showing the circulatory fluid and.electrical system of the apparatus.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view of a modified form of the structure shown inFig. 11.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line XXXX of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is an elevational view of the body of the spray nozzle' Fig. 22is a section taken on line XXII-XXII of Fig. 19.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken on line XXIII-XXIII of Fig. 19.

Fig. 24 is a sectional view taken on line XXIVXXIV of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a front elevational view of the motor.

Fig. 26 is an elevational view taken on line XXVI-XXVI of Fig. 23.

Fig. 27 is a 'diagrammatical view of the electric circuit controllingthe parts in this apparatus.

Throughout the several views like reference characters refer to similarparts, and the numeral 20 designates a cabinet comprising a body portion22 and a top portion 24 hinged thereto at 25.

Body portion 22 has a head-end wall '28, a footend wall ,30, a frontwall 32, and rear wall '34. These four vertical walls are rigidlysecured together in rectangular form and suitably braced at their innerlower edge by an angle iron 36. Casters 38 provided respectively at thefour corners above the door, and to permit free movement of the cabinetabout the room fioor. The end and side walls are made sufiicientlystrong to support a bed with the weight of a patient thereon. Positionedadjacent the upper edge of the cabinet body 22 is a continuous rail 40recessed adjacent the side and end walls to form a trough 42. Thistrough extends entirely around said cabinet and inclines slightlydownwardly from the foot of the cabinet to the head of the cabinet toform a drainage of the used water back to an outlet slot i l formed in atransverse trough 45 which communicates with the side trough adjacentthe front end of the cabinet and inclines downwardly towards slot 44,the trough is provided with suitable lining 4a to withstand the chemicalaction of the liquids that may be used as spray materials.

Positioned in the bottom portion of cabinet body 22 and resting on angleirons 38 is rectangular, open tank or catch basin 50 which extends fromadjacent the center of the cabinet to the head-end wall 20. This tankhas a bottom drain pipe 52 by means of which the water may be drainedtherefrom.

Supported in cabinet 22 above tank 50 is a tank 54 disposed in spacedrelation to head-end wall 28. The bottom 50 of tank 54 is downwardlyinclined toward its centered portion which is provided with a strainer58 communicating with the inlet port of a rotary pump 60 through aconduit 02. Pump is mounted on a platform 6 E securely carried by thecabinet body 22. An electric motor '38 mounted on platform 5c is connected for direct driving of pump b0 through a flexible connector 68.Mounted for rotation with the motor shaft is a fan which moves the airto cool the motor. nected to the water control valve 12 through conduitI4.

Control valve i2 is best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and comprises a bodymember 6 having a central bore 18, in which is reciprocally mounted apair of spaced apart valve pistons 80 and 82 which are joined togetherby a reduced axial stem 84. Two spaced apart ring groove ports 86 and 88are controlled respectively by valve pistons 80 and 82. Groove port 80communicates with an inlet cold water port $20, which interconnects witha cold water supply (such as a house service line) through a hose 82.Groove port 88 communicates with hot water conduit 14 through valve port04. Formed in valve body 16 is an outlet port 05 disposed upwardlybetween the two ring groove ports, whereby the valves may be operated todeliver either hot or cold water to said outlet port which isinterconnected to the spray nozzle through the flexible tube 98.

The valve body member I6 is secured by screws I00 to a shelf I02 whichin turn is secured to the back wall 34. Piston valves 80 and 82 arereciprocated to control the flow of water to the spray nozzles by meansof a solenoid I04 fixed to shelf I02. As shown in Fig. 6 a lever arm I00pivoted at I08 to a bracket IIO integral with shelf I02. The stem II2 ofa solenoid I04 is pivoted at H4 intermediate the ends of arm I56 and thepiston 80 has an axially disposed stem IIB which is pivoted at H8 to armI05 intermediate pivots I08 and H4 whereby when the solenoid isenergized the valve will be moved to close port 94 and open inlet port90 so that cold water will be delivered to outlet port as. A rod I20also pivotally mounted at H3 to arm 105 extends outwardly through thevertical wall I22 of shelf I02 for sliding movement thereto. A tensionspring I24 positioned on rod I20 is disposed under tension against anabutment 22%: fixed to rod I20 so that when solenoid I04 is energizedspring I24 will be compressed and when the solenoid is de-energized thespring I24 will exert sufficient force to urge arm I06 to its originalposition with port 86 closed and port 88 open so The outlet of pump 60is condesirable, thereby making it that a flow of hot water will bedelivered to the spray nozzles.

The solenoid I04 also functions to operate a tilting valve I28 which ispivotally carried by brackets I30 secured to the forward end of tank 54and adapted to be tilted to direct drain water from slot 44 to the tank50 when the solenoid I04 is energized and to the tank 54 when thesolenoid is de-energized. This valve movement is effected through rodI32 which is pivoted at its one end at I34 to the upper end portion ofarm I08 and at its other end to the radial disposed arm secured to theaxis I30 of valve I28. When the solenoid is de-energized and the valvesare set to deliver hot Water to the spray nozzles then the valve I28will be set to deliver water to tank 54 for recirculation to the spraynozzle.

It will be noted that the warm water will be conserved and recirculatedas long as it is deemed possible to medicate the water without too greata cost, and to reduce the heating cost. The water in tank 54 may beuniformly heated by means of a suitably controlled electric heater I40submerged in the water I42 in tank 54. As the hot water is used in thespraying operation its temperature will be lowered and can be raised tothe desired temperature by the thermostatically controlled heater I40,and then recirculated.

A platform or tray I44 rests on rail 40 and inclines downwardly towardthe head of the cabinet. The top surface of the platform is slightlyconvex in cross section and its edges are so positioned that they willdrain the water directly into trough 42. The body of platform I44 ispreferably made of an electrical insulating material, and is covered bya sheet or pad of water protecting material I46. This platform is ofsufficient size to support the body of the patient as his head isextended through the opening bight I48 formed in the forward end portionI58 of the top 24 to rest on the head rest I52 carried by bracket I54securely mounted on body portion 22. This head rest is provided with asuitable cushion I55 which is inclined rearwardly and downwardly todrain water into trough 42.

The lower portion I58 of top portion 24 is of rectangular form andcomprises front wall I80, head end wall I50, rear wall I82, and footwall I64 which are normally disposed vertically from body portion 22.

The front wall is provided adjacent its head portion with an elongatedaperture I05 provided with closure I08 hinged at I10 to hingedownwardly, and having a snap latch I72. Through this opening theoperator will have access to the patient during the treatment period.

The upper portion of cabinet portion 24 comprises front end wall I'M,foot end wall I75, front Wall I18, and rear wall I80. The front and rearwalls and head and foot walls are relatively upwardly and inwardlyconverging to present a narrow horizontally disposed top member I82.

Head end wall I14 is provided with an onening I84 through which a towelor sheet may be inserted and positioned about the patients neck, toclose the bight 148 to preclude the spraying of Water from the cabinet.A door I86 hinged at I38 serves to close opening I84. This door isopened to position the towel, and may be closed on the upper end of thetowel to secure it in place.

Top member W2 is provided with an elongated longitudinal opening I90which extends substantially the length of the top member. Mounted on andsecured along the marginal edges of top aerator 1'82 adjacent slot I 90is an ofi-set' bar 'I9'2,whereby to form a slot H4 along each side ofopening I90 to receive a "rectangular s'lidable plate I96. Attached tothe forward end-of plate 195 is a pliable curtain member 198 havingitsedge portions disposed in slots 194 and attached at its outer end tospring actuatedcurtain roller 200 mounted in brackets 202 secured to-head wall 114 to normally hold the curtain taut. The other end of plateI96 is likewise provided with a curtain 204 carried 'for extension on aspring actuated curtain roller 206 carried by foot wall H6 so that asplate 196 is moved rearwardly curtain 198 will pay out and curtain 204will be taken up, then together with plate 1% will always close opening"|'-9B"regard1ess of the positionof the plate'inthe opening.

Plate I96 is provided with an annularopening 210 in which is operativelyfitted a ring member 212. This ring is provided with three pairs ofvertically spaced-apart, radially disposed pins 2M which are adapted toengage the upper and lower surfaces of plate Heat the marginal edge ofopening 2 l0. This-mounting of the rings permits adjustable rotationthereof in the'plate to allow for desirable positioning of the waterspray nozzles as hereinafter described.

A disc 216 ismountedin'ring 212 on a pair of diametrically opposedtrunnions 2H3, which are pivotallymounted in the wall openings 22!] ofring 2l2 to normally secure the disc in parallel relation with plate196. "The disc is normally held against accidental tilting movement onits trunnions by a pair of spring actuated brakes 222' and 224 disposedrespectively on opposite sides-of one of'the trunnions-2H, see Fig. 9.

Each brake comprising housing 226 integral with disc 2l6 is providedwith a radially disposed recess 228 in which is -slidably mounted a plug230 which is urged outwardly to contact the inner wall of ring 2l3 bythe'action of spring 232 positioned under compression in recess 22s torest against plug 230. Since the ring 252 oscillates through relativelyshort arcs, the plugs being positioned adjacent trunnion Zia will alwaysremain in contact with ring 2l2 to prevent free swinging of disc 21B.

The multiple nozzle member 214 is secured to a shaft 242 which isrotatably mounted in a bearing block 236 secured to disc 2H; and in asleeve 238 positioned in valve body 2% which is alsosecured to disc HE.A sleeve 2M fitted on the outer end of shaft 242 is anchored thereto bymeans of a diametrically disposed pin 2&5 which extends therethrough andbeyond the outer surfaces thereof. Sleeve 244 is adapted to serve as acollar to prevent longitudinal movement in one direction and to serve asa barrel to receivea helical coil spring 248 thereabout. One

end of spring 248 is anchored by post 259 to disc 2 l6 and the other end253 thereof is anchored to pin 246. Spring 248 is so wound and mountedas to constantly urge shaft'242 to rotate in a clockwisedirection, whenviewed from its outer end.

Valve body 240 is recessed at 254 and isprovided with a valve seat 256having a port 258 adapted to be regulated by a valve 260 carried onscrew threaded stem 262 which extends through the valve body and isprovided with an operating arm 264. The inlet port 266 of valve 240communicates with tube 14 from pump 60 whereby water under pressure-is'fed to the valve. The water passing through port 258'then passes into arecess 2fi8- formed axially in the inner end portion of shaft 242, thentransversely through hole 210 into thebore-2'l2-of nozzle 2 or any othernozzle that may be positioned with its bore in register with hole 210.

For the proper distribution of the waterspray delivered from nozzle 214to the patient the nozzle is oscillated through apredetermined anglewhereby thestream of water may-be successively passed up and down thepatients body -atlre'gular intervals by means of the following mechanismincluding a pump 216 havingbody member 273 of substantially cylindricalform provided with bored cylindrical recess 283 closed at its outer endby wall 282 and open at its inner end to receive the working parts.Mounted in recess 280 is a piston rod 284 carrying a piston head 236 ofthe cup washer type. The outer end portion of piston rod ear is squaredat 288 to pass through the square opening 299 formed axially through theend bearing washer 29 2 positioned in the open" end of cylinder 216.This washer is provided with an annular groove 294 in which project theend portions of screws 298 whereby the washer is permitted to be rotatedin cylinder 280. A plug 238 mounted in housing 300 is urged radially toengage in notches 302 formed in washer 292 at the base of groove 294.This spring actuated plug serves to prevent accidental rotation ofwasher 292 but permits of adjustment of the washer "by manual forceapplied to the squared portion of piston rod 28 Adjustably mounted onthe inner end portion of piston rod 2% is a'pair of diagonally disposeddiscs 3M and 308 disposed in opposed relation and adapted tosubstantially fit the inner wall of the cylindrical recess 2.230 withtheir adjacent converging edges spaced apart and with theirdiametrically opposed edges converging at like angles from the planeperpendicu lar to the piston rod. These discs are adapted to strike alug 322 to cause the moving ofvalve 33!! from valve seat 332 when thepiston'ismoved by the water under pressure delivered by pump 60 throughflexible tube 98 to tube 3!!) thence to passageway 3E2 past needlevalvetfi'z to opening 36l thence into cylinder ztu where it exertspressure against piston 235 to drive the piston outwardly against theroller 3 l Erotatably mounted on shaft 3E5 carried by lever arm3l8-whic'h is rigidly mounted on shaft 242 whereby the spring 258 iswound sufliciently to drive the piston 286 to discharge water from thecylinder through drain 320 to discharge into the-cabinet. When the discs3% and 306 are in the position shown in Fig. 12 the length of stroke ofthe nozzle 214 will be at its maximum. To limit the length of stroke of27a the piston rod 28 is rotated in either direction so that the "valvepin 322 carried by sleeve 32 i projecting into the cylinder 230 will bemoved a less distance, tnus shortening the stroke of the nozzle I214.The shortest distanceof travel is produced when the adjacent portions ofthe discs 304 and 306 are in operativerelation relative to the pin322.This valve pin is carried by'a sleevesiafitmounted for reciprocatingmovement in a valve cylinder 326 formed in the side wall'of the pumpbody member 2'58. Sleeve 324 is slidably mounted. on the stem 328 ofvalve 339 whichcooperates with valve seat 332 to close the outletfrommylinder 280. A valve 334 cooperates with valve seat 336 to regulatethe flow of water. .to drainpipe 3Z0. Valve 334 is carried byva-lveistem 338'which is adjustable'by thumb head '34! to regulatethevalve relative to its seat. Valve stem "328 zextends inwardly beyond theend of sleeve 324 and is provided at its outer end with a nut 349. Acompression coil spring 342 positioned on valve stem 328 between sleeve324 and nut 340 serves to facilitate a rapid movement of valve 338 fromits seat when disc 306 strikes valve pin 322 and forces sleeve 324inwardly against coil spring 342 whereby when it tensioned sufficientlyto overcome the pressure tending to close valve 330 then the valve willquickly snap from its seat 332 to permit the flow of fluid throughopening 344 past valve 330 to drain opening 320. The position of valve334 will determine the speed of release of the fluid and time requiredfor spring 248 to return the piston 286 to its retracted position. Itwill be noted that valve stem 328 is slotted transversely at 344 topermit limited longitudinal movement of pin 322. Should the pin 322 failto release valve 330 before it strikes the wall of slot 344 it willforce the valve from its seat and the compressed spring 342 will causethe valve 330 to move rapidly from its seat. Vent 348 in stem 328 andvent 348 in 218 serve to relieve the pressure in chamber 350 due to theaction of spring 342.

As soon as valve 330 is opened water fiows out drain 320 and the spring248 will drive piston 288 to its retracted position, during saidretracting disc 304 will carry pin 322 backward to seat valve 330 and toclose the exhaust 320. When this has been accomplished the incomingwater under pressure will act against piston 286 to gradually oscillatelever 313 whereby the nozzle will be oscillated. The speed of travel ofsaid piston on its outward stroke is determined by the positioning ofvalve 352 relative to valve seat 354. The position of this valve iscontrolled by lever arm 356 which is securely fixed to valve stem 358.By moving valve 332 toward valve seat 384 the time period for moving thepiston against roller 316 is lengthened. Water is fed into chamber 280through port 391 formed in 218. The numeral 380 designates a guide discfixed concentrically on piston rod 284 which serves to stabilize themotor plunge in its operation. Plug 362 closes chamber 350 and plug 384serves to close an aperture formed in 218 to facilitate the positioningand the removal of pin 322.

Figures 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 are modified forms of theparts shown in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. These modifiedstructures show parts which function to perform the same general work asthe corresponding parts in the preferred forms.

Referring now to Fig. 19 which corresponds to Fig. 11 it will be notedthat shaft 366 extends through packing nut 388 and into valve body 240.This shaft is integral with a nozzle body 388 and is hollow at 310 tocommunicate with the nozzle recess 312. Disposed in an axial alignmentwith shaft 388 and integral with the opposite side of nozzle body 268 isstem 314 bored axially at 316 and provided with suitable threads 318 toreceive a tapered screw 380. This stem is slit inwardly at 319 from itsouter end to a point beyond the threaded portion, whereby when thetapered screw 380 is screwed to position as shown, it will spread thetwo legs of the slit stem 314 apart and against the inner wall ofelongated tube 382 to secure the stem and tube together. The degree oftension between the stem and tube can be regulated by screwing the screw380 to different depths into the stem 314. Tube 382 extends from nozzle388 to a point beyond stem 314 and is mounted for rotation in a bearingblock 384 rigidly secured to disc 218 by screw 388. The outer endportion of tube 382 is fitted with a sleeve 388 which is secured theretoby means of a set screw 390 which also serves to anchor one end of thehelical spring 248 to said tube 382 while the other end of said springis secured to disc 218 by screw 394. The lever arm 318 is secured abouttube 382 by set screw 392.

Referring to nozzle body 368 it will be noted that it has a reduced,externally threaded portion 398 adapted to receive an internallythreaded nozzle valve seat 398 adapted to be threaded thereon. The valvestem 400 extends through the upper end wall 402 of nozzle 368 andthrough a packing gland 4'04 and has an enlarged, hollow central portion408 having an externally threaded portion 408 adapted to operativelyengage in internal threads 410 formed in the inner wall of nozzle 368.The lower end portion of stem 400 is provided with a hemispherical valve412 which cooperates with valve seat 398 to vary the type of steamdelivered. Valve stem head 414 to facilitate assembly of the parts isremovably attached to stem 400. It will be noted that the lower tipportion 416 of nozzle 368 is removably secured to the body portion 388and carries the valve seat 398. By replacing the tip with differentvalve seats the type of steam can be quickly varied.

Referring now to Figures 23, 24, 25 and 26 which show a modified form ofthe water pressure motor which is provided with a pair of spaced apart,oppositely wound helical operating members 418, and 420 fixed to theinner cylindrical end portion 284 of square piston rod 288. Also fixedto the end portion 284 is a guide disc 422 which serves to stabilize thefree end of piston rod 288.

The squared outer portion of the valve stem 288 extends through a squarehole 424 formed through adjustable end disc 428. This disc is normallysecured in position by the lugs 428 which are forced tightly against theperiphery of disc 428 by means of screws 430. A handle 432 fixed to theouter face of disc 428 serves as a hand grip to move the helicaloperating members to the desired position to properly operate the valve434. Fixed concentrically on piston rod 288 is a piston 438 which isadapted to be moved by liquid under pressure in like manner as in thepreferred form.

Referring now to the passage of pressure liquid to and from the cylinderchamber 280, it will be noted that the inlet pipe 310 is provided with anormally adjustable needle valve 438, which regulates the flow ofpressure fluid through part 443 to chamber 280. The outlet valve 434comprises a movable valve housing 442 mounted in a recess 444 formed inthe central lower portion of cylinder 446 and extending into cylinderchamber 280 in the path of travel of operating members 41B and 420. Whenthe piston 438 is moved forwardly by liquid pressure operating member420 will contact the end of valve housing 442 to move it against theaction of spring 448 which is positioned in the housing between the endof the housing and the ball valve 450. This valve 459 is urged to itsseat 452 by the high pressure in chamber 280, however when spring 448has been compressed sufiiciently it will overcome this pressure urge andrelease said valve from its seat and snap it from the seat so that therewill be no chattering of the valve in the opening starting point.

operation. After the ball valve has been opened the liquid underpressure will be exhausted past adjustable valve 454 and out the drainopening 456. In the operation of the motor it is necessary to provide alonger opening at outlet valve 454 than is provided for the inlet ofliquid through needle valve 638. When valve 350 is opened there will notbe enough pressure against the piston 436 to drive it against thetension of spring 248 and the spring will. reverse the direction oftravel of piston in the cylinder 28d until the ball valve 450 isreturned to its seat by the operating member M8 engaging the valvehousing 442. Spring 446 is so tensioned' that it will exert no pressureagainst the ball valve 450 when the parts are in the position. shown inFigure 23. A bridge member 458 integral with valve hous ing 442 ispositioned above ball valve 358 to prevent its accidental displ acementfrom the housing. It will be apparen ii that should the power be shuton" the machine while valve 459] is still seated the spring 248 willdrive the piston against the fluid in cylinder 28!) to drive it throughvalve 438 so that the piston will be removed to the When the piston isthus retracted the nozzle 4H5 will be directed to deliver a liquidstream toward the lower extremities of the patient. This is veryimportant since the application of hot or cold water to the patientshould always be started at the lower extremities and gradually movedupwardly to avoid any objectional nervous shock. v

Referring to Fig. 18 which shows a diagram matic View of the water andelectric system it will be noted that the water service lines 45!! and452 are respective cold and hot water service lines, the cold watercomes from the incoming outside line which is usually of a temperaturefrom 38 to 60 degrees. Water from line 552. is normally fed to mixervalve 484 thence to pipe 466 through open valve 668 and into tank M.When the water in line 462 is too hot then water is tempered by meansintermixing it with the proper amount of cold water fed through line 460into mixing valve 464 where the desired temperature may be obtained. Thewater delivered to. tank 511 may be maintained at predeterminedtemperature by thermostatically controlled electric heater I40 as it issuccessively passed through tube t2, pump Bil, tube M, water controlvalve 12 to conductor 93,. then to nozzle 27 where it is discharged onthe patient.

A refrigerator coil 4710, mounted in box 4??! is connectedat its one endby pipe M4 to cold water pipe 460 and. at its other end by pipe M5 tomixing valve M8. Refrigerator coil 4"! may be surrounded by any suitablerefrigerant 482 such as ice.

Water delivered through pipe lli! enters the I mixing valve 4'13 whichmay be of the well known thermostatically controlled type. For cold application of water the water passes through the mixer and is mixed withthe cold water from pipe till) which. in the summer time is tempered bythe summer heat, it then. passes through three-way valve 483 tomixingvalve A18 to control valve '52, pipe 98 to nozzle 216 from which it isdischarged to the patient.

During the winter time when. water in pipe 356 is too cold for bodyapplication the operator moves valve 488 to-direct warm water from pipe652 directly to mixing valve All? where water from pipe 45!] passingthrough pipe 4M, unr frigerated coil fl'iil, pipe lifi to mixing valve@758 where it is tempered with the hot water from 10 pipe 462., anddelivered through pipe 92, control valve l2, pipe 98 to nozzle 216 fromwhich it is sprayed to the body S of the patient.

Referring now to Fig. 27 which discloses the electric circuit indiagrammatic form it will be noted that certain of the controlling unitssuch as the dual time, low volt generator which are well known in theindustry are not shown in their entirety but are. simply indicated. Thedual timer indicated as numeral Add provides two chronometers $92 and494, one to regulate the duration of the application of hot water andone to regulate time of application or" cold water. Usually the twoapplications are alternately applied in materially different timeperiods, however it is not intended to follow any fixed pattern of waterapplications since they may be materially changed by separately settingthe chronom" eters to operate in alternate relation.

The electrical circuit shown in Fig. 27 shows the tilting electricswitch M l mounted on valve body are and operable by pin 486 carried byoperating arm 2% of valve 258 which controls the starting and stoppingof motor 56. The contacts 49d mounted in mercury tube 498 are shown inthe open position when the valve arm operating pin set is in position asshown to hold the mercury 590 in the down position. As soon as theoperator moves arm 2M to open valve 266! the contacts 4% are closed bythe mercury 5&9, since the mercury tube is so balanced that it will.normally move to the closed position and can only be opened as long asthe pin 2% forces it out of balance. The flow of water through valveport 253 can be regulated after the circuit has been closed to motor 66to drive rotary pump til.

As a further object of this ivention it will be noted that switch @8 1is mounted on lid 24, hinged at 26 so that when said lid is moved to theopen position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 the mercury valve willalways be open regardless of the position of valve arm 264' thusinsuring the shutting ofi of motor whenever the cabinet is open.

The patient 8 rests on electrode 582 which is connected by wire 594 tothe low voltage generator 5%. The other side of the generator isconnected to the spray nozzle by means of Wire 583. When the spray is onand the generator 5% is operating an electric charge will be deliveredto the patients bodyv In Fig. 27 live wires 5! and di serve to deliver asuitable electric current to the system. Wire 5|!) connects to one ofthe contacts 496 and the other contact is connected by wire did to oneside of motor 66 while the other side of the motor is connected by wire5. ii to live wire 5H2. Heater 14b is connected by wires M8 and 5293 tolive wires 5H? and 542 respectively. Solenoid Hid is connected by wire522 to live wire Eli] and by wire 52 5 through the dual timer mechanism439 and 526 to the other side of said solenoid. This dual timer isprovided with electric power through wires 528 and 5% which connect withWires Eli) and 5M respectively. The dual timer mechanism 525 is operatedin one direction by spring 533 and in the other direction by theelectric coil 53% connected by wires 536 and 53%; to timer Q92.

These electric and mechanical parts serve to control the periods ofapplication of hot and cold water to thepatient.

I claim:

1. In a therapeutic bath apparatus, a mounting plate, anozzle carried bysaid plate for oscillatory pivotal movement, means for supplying liquidunder pressure to said nozzle, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on saidplate, a piston and piston rod mounted operably in said cylinder, anoperative connection between said piston rod and said nozzle wherebysaid piston is adapted by its forward movement to pivot said nozzle inone direction, resilient means urging said nozzle and piston in theopposite direction, said cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports behindsaid piston, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said inletport, a valve controlling the flow of fluid through said outlet port,said valve including a movable operating member projecting adjacent saidpiston rod and op-- erable by forward and rearward movement to open andclose said valve respectively, and a pair of trip members mountedfixedly on said piston rod respectively forwardly and rearwardly of saidvalve operating member and adapted to contact and move said valveoperating member alternately at the forward and rearward limits ofmovement of said piston.

2. In a therapeutic bath apparatus, a mounting plate, a nozzle carriedby said plate for oscillatory pivotal movement, a conduit for supplyingliquid under pressure to said nozzle, a hydraulic cylinder mounted onsaid plate, a piston and piston rod mounted operably in said cylinder,an operative connection between said piston rod and said nozzle wherebysaid piston is adapted by its forward movement to pivot said nozzle inone direction, resilient means urging said nozzle and piston in theopposite direction, said cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports behindsaid piston, a by-pass conduit interconnecting said nozzle conduit andsaid inlet port for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, avalve controlling the flow of fluid through said outlet port, said valveincluding a movable operating member projecting adjacent said piston rodand operable by forward and rearward movement to open and close saidvalve respectively, and a pair of trip members mounted fixedly on saidpiston rod respectively forwardly and rearwardly of said valve operatingmember and adapted to contact and move said valve operating memberalternately at the forward and rearward limits of movement of saidpiston.

3. In a therapeutic bath apparatus, a mounting plate, a nozzle carriedby said plate for oscillatory pivotal movement, a conduit for supplyingliquid under pressure to said nozzle, a hydraulic cylinder mounted onsaid plate, a piston and piston rod mounted operably in said cylinder,an operative connection between said piston rod and said nozzle wherebysaid piston is adapted by its forward movement to pivot said nozzle inone direction, resilient means urging said nozzle and piston in theopposite direction, said cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports behindsaid piston, a by-pass conduit interconnecting said nozzle conduit andsaid inlet port for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, avalve controlling the flow of fluid through said outlet port, said valveincluding a movable operating member projecting adjacent said piston rodand operable by forward and rearward movement to open and close saidvalve respectively, a pair of trip members mounted fixedly on saidpiston rod respectively forwardly and rearwardly of said valve operatingmember and adapted to contact and move said valve operating memberalternately at the forward and rearward limits of movement of saidpiston, and a manually ad justable flow regulating valve disposed insaid by-pass conduit, whereby the duration of the forward stroke of thepiston may be regulated.

4. In a therapeutic bath apparatus, a mounting plate, a nozzle carriedby said plate for oscillatory pivotal movement, a conduit for supplyingliquid under pressure to said nozzle, a hydraulic cylinder mounted onsaid plate, a piston and piston rod mounted operably in said cylinder,an operative connection between said piston rod and said nozzle wherebysaid piston is adapted by its forward movement to pivot said nozzle inone direction, resilient means urging said nozzle and piston in theopposite direction, said cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports behindsaid piston, a by-pass conduit interconnecting said nozzle conduit andsaid inlet port for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, avalve control ling the flow of fluid through said outlet port, saidvalve including a movable operating member projecting adjacent saidpiston rod and operable by forward and rearward movement to open andclose said valve respectively, and a pair of trip members mountedfixedly on said piston rod re spectively forwardly and rearwardly ofsaid valve operating member and adapted to contact and move said valveoperating member alternately at the forward and rearward limits ofmovement of said piston, and a manually adjustable flow regulating valveinterconnected with said exhaust port, whereby the duration of therearward stroke of the piston may be regulated.

5. In a therapeutic bath apparatus, a mounting plate, a nozzle carriedby said plate for oscillatory pivotal movement, a conduit for supplyingliquid under pressure to said nozzle, a hydraulic cylinder mounted onsaid plate, a piston and piston rod mounted operable in said cylinder,an operative connection between said piston rod and said nozzle wherebysaid piston is adapted by its forward movement to pivot said nozzle inone direction, resilient means urging said nozzle and piston in theopposite direction, said cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports behindsaid piston, a bypass conduit interconnecting said nozzle conduit andsaid inlet port for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, avalve controlling the flow of fluid through said outlet port, said valveincluding a movable operating member projecting adjacent said piston rodand operable by forward and rearward movement to open and close saidvalve respectively, a pair of trip members mounted fixedly on saidpiston rod respectively forwardly and rearwardly of said valve operatingmember and adapted to contact and move said valve operating memberalternately at the forward and rearward limits of movement of saidpiston, and a pair of adjustable flow regulating valves disposedrespectively in said by-pass conduit and in connection with said exhaustport, whereby the duration of the forward and rearward strokes of thepiston, respectively, may be regulated independently.

6. In a therapeutic bath apparatus, a mounting plate, a nozzle carriedby said plate for oscillatory pivotal movement, a conduit for supplyingliquid under pressure to said nozzle, a hydraulic cylinder mounted onsaid plate, a piston and piston rod mounted operably in said cylinder,an operative connection between said piston rod and said nozzle wherebysaid piston is adapted by its forward movement to pivot said nozzle inone direction, resilient means urging said nozzle and piston in theopposite direction, said cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports behindsaid piston, a bypass conduit interconnecting said nozzle conduit andsaid inlet port for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder, avalve controlling the flow of fluid through said outlet port, said valveincluding a movable operating member projecting adjacent said piston rodand operable by forward and rearward movement to open and close saidvalve respectively, a pair of trip members mounted fixedly on saidpiston rod respectively forwardly and rearwardly of said valve operatingmember and adapted to contact and move said valve operating memberalternately at the forward and rearward limits of movement of saidpiston, and means operable to adjust the distance between said tripmembers in a direction parallel to said piston rod, at their points ofengagement with said valve operating member, whereby to adjust thelength of stroke of said piston.

7. In a therapeutic bath apparatus, a mounting plate, a nozzle carriedby said plate for oscillatory pivotal movement, a conduit for supplyingliquid under pressure to said nozzle, a hydraulic cylinder mounted onsaid plate, a piston and piston rod mounted operably in said cylinder,said piston rod being manually rotatable about its longitudinal axis,means carried by said cylinder and operable to secure said piston rodadjustably at any point of its rotation, an operative connection betweensaid piston rod and said nozzle whereby said piston is adapted by itsforward movement to pivot said nozzle in one direction, resilient meansurging said nozzle and piston in the opposite direction, said cylinderhaving inlet and exhaust ports behind said piston, a by-pass conduitinterconnecting said nozzle conduit and said inlet port for supplyingfluid under pressure to said cylinder, a valve controlling the flow offluid through said exhaust port, said valve including a movableoperating member projecting adjacent said piston rod and operable byforward and rearward movement to open and close said valve respectively,and a pair of disc-like trip members secured concentrically to saidpiston rod respectively forwardly and rearwardly of said valve operatingmember and adapted to contact and move said valve operating memberalternately at the forward and rearward limits of movement of saidpiston, said trip members being planar and inclined oppositely relativeto the axis of the piston rod whereby the distance therebetween in adirection parallel to the piston rod varies at different points in thecircumference thereof, said piston rod being adapted by its rotation tobring any desired portions of said trip members into operativerelationship with the valve operating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,751,640 Lindhorst Mar. 25, 1930 2,087,175 Voight July 13,1937 2,309,782 Orr Feb. 2, 1943 2,322,271 Bagley June 22, 1943 2,413,002Schurtz Dec. 24, 1946 2,443,568 Palm June 15, 1948 2,453,844 HungateNov. 18, 1948 2,535,469 Wanke Dec. 26, 1950 2,540,159 Antrim Feb. 6,1951 2,581,781 Ahlfors Jan. 8, 1952

